In the present study, the effects of hypo-osmotic and hyper-osmotic shock on β-carotene and glycerol production by a native strain of Dunaliella salina isolated from Maharlu Salt Lake, Fars province, Iran, were investigated. The amount of β-carotene and glycerol at 1 h, 2 h, 8 h and 24 h after initiating hypo-osmotic (1 M NaCl) and hyper-osmotic shocks (3 M NaCl); and at normal condition (2 M NaCl) were measured. At hyper-osmotic medium, β-carotene concentration reached its maximum amount after 2 h and remained constant up to 24 h. Even so, increasing of glycerol concentration was initiated after 2 h and reached the highest value at 24 h after salinity stress induction. At hypo-osmotic shock, β-carotene and glycerol concentrations were decreased. There are lots of lakes and salt marshes in Iran, which can be suitable environments for growing D. salina. So it seems that the isolated D. salina is potentially useful for planting in small locations to promote commercial production of β-carotene and glycerol.
Key words: Glycerol, β-carotene, Osmotic shock, Dunaliella salina, Functional food.
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